Festa de Nina, a Lesson, and Transfers!

Hello Everyone!

I spent some time this week things of a fancy title for this email... I hope you like it :)

My goodness so many things happened this week! First off, sobre transfers... I am getting transfered to Maceió! I leave on a bus at 5AM tomorrow as we will end up in Farol at about 11AM/12PM. I have no idea what area I will be serving in or who my companion will be, but I am excited. I am so sad to be leaving Grageru! I love this area, but I have a wonderful 4 monthes here and I know that I need to move on. The worst part about transfers though is packing your suitcases. At least I am the only one getting transfered so I have my stuff basically everywhere, but the other sisters are fine with it :) I somehow always get more and more things every transfer... Oh well. I will let you all know where I will be serving next week and who is my companion!

We had our last meeting with President and Sister Gonzaga this week. They are so amazing, but President Gomes is officially my mission president on the 28th of June. I am excited to meet him and his wife, but so sad to see the Gonzaga´s go, but with President Gonzaga´s new calling he get´s to travel to the states once a year (and probably to Utah), so I will see them again and we will be friends on Facebook after the mission :)

This Friday we had the Festa de Nina activity at church (São João) and let me tell you- it was a festa! Brazilian know how to party :) Don´t worry, I obeyed all the rules that I have, but I have made it a personal goal that I will return to Brasil and Sergipe during this time of year because it is the best time of year. There was SO much food- so many things will corn that I could eat! I will have to get the recipes and make them when I get home. I will have a tradition of Festa de Nina in my house :) There was also a trio that played music and let me tell you. You think the music is loud at the stake dances... nope. You literally can not hear people talk, but everyone is dancing and it is so much fun. Totally not something I would normally like, but I think I am becoming a Brazilian :) Speaking of becoming a Brazilian- I am becoming a Northeastern Brazilian because now I always sleep with a green kind of flees blanket every night and in the beginning of my mission I would wake up sweating with just sleeping with a sheet. I tell myselft that it is not cool at all, but my body is used to the weather now... I think I will actually die when I get back to the states, especially when I spend the winter in Logan, UT... Anyway, I am becoming a Brazilian and loving it :)

So the lesson I learned this week (well one of them, I learned many). We were suppose to have a baptism this past Saturday and we talked with him Friday, everything went great in his interview, he came to the ward activity and he was so excited. Then Saturday came and he did not show up for his baptism and he doesn´t have a cell phone. We went to his house and he wasn´t there, but we talked with him mom and she said she was tell him to go to church yesterday, but he didn´t come. We have not been able to talk with him again, but Sister Araújo will keep trying to find him after I leave and make sure he is baptized. The change in him is amazing and I know that Satan is working hard on him.  My heart literally broke when we got home and I literally just cried because I was so sad that he didn´t show up for his baptism and I realized that is exactly how Heavenly Father feels. He is so sad when we don´t follow the path and do what´s right. But I now Heavenly Father has a plan for him and He can see the bigger picture. 

Well, that is all for this week! I have attached pictures. I took so many pictures this week, but because I took so many I have to choose which ones I will send, but it´s so hard! Well, anyway, I hope you like them :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week! This church is true and Jesus Christ is our Savior. Heavenly Father hears and answers every prayer. Pour your heart our to Him. He is listening and He will comfort your heart. 

I love you and miss you!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

Copo do Mundo!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all doing well! Nothing too amazing happened this week, but I will fill you on what did happen. 

This week we had our exchange and I went to Eduardo Gomes for a day and worked there. We have an exchange once every transfer and either me or my companion stay in our area and the other goes to the other area. We always do the exchange with the Sister Treinadoras. They are pretty much Zone Leaders for the sisters. I always love seeing another area, but the hard part is that you teach people and I will probably never see then again! It is like only reading until the 5th chapter in a 20 chapter book! :)

This week Copo do Mundo (The World Cup) also started. We stay inside a little bit before, during and after the game. We just have to use our best judgement about when we should go inside and when we think it is good to left our apartment after the game is over. I knew that people were crazy about soccer (futebol here), but that is an understatment! There was literally no one in the road, not a single person or car, everyone was having a party at their house, everyone wears a jersey or at least the color of Brasil (yellow and green). And here, fireworks are legal for anyone and everyone to do. There are people who sell them in the streets and anyone can buy them. That is probably the more dangerous part and the part I have the more worry about. We had to stay inside and the two Brazilian sisters I live with were going crazy, while me and the other sister from Peru were just sitting and talking like normal. You don´t need to watch the game though to hear what is doing one though. You can hear all of Brasil screaming ´goal´ and fireworks don´t get just off at the end of the game, but at every goal. At the end of the game though you would have thought that they won the entire world cup because there were so many fireworks, but it was only the first game... If they win I have no idea when will happen... It really is a different world here. I will let you know how things continue as the World Cup continues. They play again tomorrow. 

A little bit of culture this week- Sister Araújo and I bought corn from pretty much off the side of the road, but don´t worry, it´s all good. 4 ears of corn for R$ 4! Literally there was just two people standing there and a huge pile of corn and you just walk up and buy what you want. Oh, how I love Brasil :)

This week I started reading Jesus the Christ and oh my goodness I love it. It is crazy long and you have to get into it a little because it is not one of those quick read books, but it is so good! I am so grateful for all the books, scriptures and words of the prophets we have to learn from. 

Well, that is all for this week. We find out about transfers next Sunday and I feel like I will be transfered. I have been in this area for 4 monthes- 3 transfers and I LOVE this area, so that means that I will probably be transfered... I love this ward, the members, the area we have to work... oh I love Grageru! :) 

I know that this is church is true. I know that Jesus Cristo is our Savior and that He will return one day. I know that it can be a day of joy or sadness depending now on what we do and what we choose. I am so excited for when our Savior will return. I know that it will be a marvilous day! (I am not ready for Him to come yet, I want to finish my mission first, but nevertheless, I am excited :) ). 

I hope you all have a fabulous week! I love you and miss you!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

Feliz Junho!

Hello Everyone!

I cannot believe that is it June! I realized that it will be one year ago that I recieved my call on the 14th of June. I feel like happened yesterday and here I am with 7 monthes of my mission gone! I really am no longer one of the new ones :)

This week was a normal week for us,but we did have Conferência de Zona this week. We spendall day at the church and Presidente and Sister Gonzaga speak to us, the AP´s,secretaries and have other training. It iswith all the missionaries who are serving in Sergipe so it is fun to catch up with people. I was able to talk with two Hispanic elders who left the CTM with me. I can understand everything they say now! Before I rarely talked to them or ifIdid it was notmuch because I don´tknow Spanish, Ididn´t know Portugués and they don´tknow English (although one of them had an American companion and theamericancompanion is teaching the hispanic elderabout the US,includinghow he shouldroot forthe Giants :). How wonderful it is when you know the language and you can communicate with people :) They are so awesome! 

As some of you may know, my mission president wascalled to be an area seventy and was atGeneral Conference in SaltLake inAbril and they hadsome training from some apostles andSister Gonzaga told us themain reasons for lowering the age for missionaries,one being theneedformissionaries andtwo to strengthen the youth. The world is not getting any better and it will notget any better and the youth needto stand strong to their values and keep strong testimonies and I canpromiseyou that there isnothing else that willprepare you for life,strength your testimony and keep you on the path likeserving a mission. Itis unbelieveable the growth you have,thethingsyou learn whileservingamission. I am SO grateful forthe missionandeverything I havelearned this far andI am soexcited to seewhatthe next 10/11monthes holdforme. 

Idon´t have any other amazingstories to tell, so I thought Iwouldtell you alittleabout the culture (because I have heardsomepeople have asked :) ). For foodhere,every mealwe have rice,beans, somekindofsalad/vegtables, chicken or meat and pasta.Sometimes there isalsopotatos andvariousfoods thatpeoplemake,butthisisthestaple. Thereisalways juice todrink too (juice thatismadefrom realfruit... yum!). It sounds borning, butit isnot that bad andI have yet toeatsomethingthatI had chokedown :)

Also, we are starting into The World Cup season and lifewillbedifferent here. Wewillnotbeabletoworkduringandafter gameswhereBrasil, the United States or Germany play. Literally everythingwillclosedown though when Brasilplays.Likeitisaholiday- no onw will go to work. We will have to stay in ourapartment...lifewill beinteresting :)

Also São João is aroundthecorner here too. It is really big here in the NE. Itisonly oneday, butit is the wholmonth of June here really. I don´t exactly know what thepurpose or reason for the holiday is,butyou can googleitandfindout more:)

Well,that´s all I havetimefortoday! Iam sorry that a bunch ofwords are puttogether- the space bardoesn´t really worktoowell...I hopeyou can understandthough. 

Ihopeyou all have a great week!! I knowthisgospelis true with allof my heart.JesusChristisourSavior. He died that we can each livewith ourfamilies again.How beautifulis thisgospel!!

I loveyou allandmiss you somuch!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

I love the mission!

Hello Everyone! What a week this was! I hope that you are all doing well! I cannot believe we are halfway through Maio! Where does the time go... :) We didn´t have any baptisms this week, but we are still teaching a bunch of people. Some ramdon things for this week. I am the only American in our house now! It is two Brasilians and a sister from Peru. I am also the second oldest in terms of time on the mission with my companion being the oldest with 9 monthes. I am still the youngest in age though :) It is still really hard to speak in English. A member in the ward was trying to speak with my in English to practice because he has been home from his mission for 2 years and he learned a good amount of English, but he never has anyone to practice with. Nossa, maybe I will just have to stay here because I think with another year I will have forgoten English... :) Tapioca! I am now addicted to tapioca. Yet another thing I will have to bring back to the states with me... That´s why you have Brasilian friends though who will send you things and I will send them things from the states :) I don´t know if you remember when I was with Sister Martin and I tried to explain tapioca to you all, but now I can buy it and make it in our house. So, you buy in in a bag and to make it thinner, you sift it though a little strainer. You add some salt, pour a little in a pan, flatten it out and about 30 seconds later is all kind of melts or sticks together or something, you flip is over and your good to go. You don´t have to put oil, butter or anthing in the pan, which is nice that is doesn´t stick. Then you can put whatever you want in it. In mine I have some butter and coconut, but really anything. I roll mine up too, but you can fold it in half if you want. It is also so filling which is nice. I hope that makes more sense now :) One thing that I learned more this week is the power of the Atonement. I am teaching people principles that I already know, but the more I teach, the more I learn. The Atonement is such a beautiful thing. Cristo suffered for all of our sins already and through the Atonement we can become better everyday. We are never going to be perfect in this life, but we just have to try to be better each day and Heavenly Father will be happy. He knows the intents and desires of our hearts; even just the desire to change and be better is great. I am so grateful for the Atonement and my Savior! Because of His sacrifice we can all live with our Heavenly Father and families eternally. What a beautiful message!  Also, if you have a chance read Mosiah 25, but verse 22 is what I like the most. One things I have been so grateful for is to serve outside the states. It is hard because it is a new culture, new things, new food and alot of things are difference, but I have really been able to see that the gospel is the same throughout all the world. You can go to church one week in Brasil, the next in Italy and you will learn the same princples and feel the same Spirit- how amazing is that! This really is His church.  I am so grateful to have this beloved gospel in my life and be able to share it with the world. Everyday I get the wear the name of the Savior and everyone who I talk to or sees me, knows it. I am so grateful to be serving this mission. I know now why everyone who is a return missionary always talks about their mission- because it really is this best thing ever. You learn so much, meet so many amazing people and have experiences that you will remember forever. I love the mission!  I hope you all have a fabulous week! I love you and miss you! Com amor, Sister Chilson    To make up for last week... pictures :) My baptism! Me my companion and the man we taught Me and the other sisters I live with by Sergipe river when we went to Centro last week The stake president lives in this fancy neighborhood type thing and there are some really pretty murals- a parrot and coconuts because this is Brasil :)

The Gospel is Beautiful and True!

Hello Everyone!

I cannot believe that it is Maio, that I have been on my mission for 6 monthes and that this is the last week of this transfer! Where does the time go!? :) We had another wonderful week here in Grageru filled with miracles. 

One of the biggest things is that we will have two baptisms this coming Saturday. It is two brothers who I talked about other weeks. The change in them is unbelieveable. This gospel is so beautiful and truly anyone can change. One of the brothers volunteers to give prayers at lessons, is reading the Book of Mormon two times everyday and walked to the adult session of stake conference alone at night. He even said yesterday to us that he can testify that this is the church of Jesus Christ. I wanted to cry because I am so happy and filled with joy that this gospel has made such a difference in his life and that I was blessed to be able to see this change in him. The mission is not easy, but when you meet people like this and are able to see such a profund change... it makes it all worth it. I wish that I could tell you all in person!! I guess I will just have to wait for my homecoming talk :) 

This week we also had entravistas with President Gonzaga and Stake Conference with Presdient Costa of the Seventy. It was probably the best stake conference I have ever been at, sorry everyone in Rochester. The spirit was SO strong. I am so grateful that I was able to understand pretty much everything. I am so grateful for inspired leaders who help lead and guide us. The adult session was all about missionary work and how every member is a missionary. The Sunday session was about missionary work também, but President Costa talked about how the gospel was created and everything we do here on earth is so that families can be sealed together for eternity. I know this is true. We are so blessed to have the priesthood authority and temples that allow us to make sacred covenants that bind families together eternally. He shared stories about people who travel days to get to the temple and the area I am in right now the closest temple is 10 hours away and you know what he said, they live close to a temple. I made me think about how I live 30 minutes away from a temple in Palmyra. I will make sure that when I get home that I always make temple attendance a goal and planned. We are so blessed to have the restored gospel here on earth- we need to us it and show our gratidue to our Heavenly Father!

This week was so wonderful and attached are some pictures. One with me and Sister Gonzaga and the other is a group of sisters who were waiting for entravista com Presidente Gonzaga. We are teaching more people this week, but Sister Araújo and I are so excited for our batismos this Saturday. We will finish this transfer well :)

I am so grateful for this gospel and the power it has to change lives. I know that we are never to far away to come back and there is not one person who cannot be changed by this gospel. I am so grateful to be able to see the change in people´s lives. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for trusting me with His precious children. I love this gospel. I know that our Redeemer lives!!

I hope you all have a fabulous week!! I love you and miss you!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

Another Week...

Hello Everyone!

I cannot believe that another week is gone. I am already halfway done with this transfer because it is only 4 weeks long... Where does the time go?!

This week was a little slow, nothing crazy amazing happened, but last P-Day we went to the zoo! It is nothing compared to the Seneca Park Zoo, but it was nice to do something different. Attached are some pictures of some parrots (because this is Brasil :)), a picture with me next to the sign at the entrance of the zoo with a member who decided to jump in the picture too and a picture of my ´family´ the mission. From right to left it is, S. Moraes, my grandma, S. Martin, my mom, S. Soares, my aunt, S. Barratt, my sister, me and a different S. Araújo (not my companion) who is my cousin. It will be the last (and only) picture we have together because S. Moraes goes home this transfer. 

This week we had 3 investigators come to church again which was amazing. One thing that I had the priviedge to see this week is what how trials in the lives of 2 of my investigators brought about such a change of heart in them. I think back to when I met them just a few short weeks ago and to hear my talk and hear their desires now is so amazing. I am so grateful that they had this trial in their life, but to see them now, their have different focuses and they are such different people. That has been one the many blessings that I have recieved here on the mission, being able to watch the Lord work in the lives of people and watch people change. I am so grateful for that!

Nothing else amazing happened this week, Sister Araújo and I taught people, walked, ate almoço with members and taught and walked... :) 

I hope that you are all doing well! Oh, one other picture I attached is of me and my companion by a sign that translates roughly to `Place where I feel sad and miss (fill in the blank with qualquer coias you miss, family, home, your jeans that you want to wear). I don´t really know how you describe saudade... maybe google translate? Or you just have to know Português :) 

Well anyway, that was my week! I hope that you all have a fabulous week as we welcome in Maio! Where did that come from?! 

I know this church is true with all of my heart and I am so grateful to have the gospel and all of the knowledge is brings in my life. 

I love and miss you all!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

 

Feliz Páscoa!

Hello Everyone!!

I hope that you all have a wonderful Easter yesterday! Easter is not as big here as it is in the states, but they eat alot of chocolate... I ate so much chocolate this week it is crazy. Quase cada membro gave us chocolate and my district leader even gave each of us sister a big chocolate bar. It is bigger than a king size Hershey bar in the states. He knows how to get the sisters to work with him :)

I met my new companion this week too! Her name is Sister Araújo. She is from Fortaleza and has been out on the mission for 9 monthes. She is super awesome and we are getting to know each other and figuring out how to teach together and such. Attached is a picture of my district with my new Zone Leaders. My Zone Leaders are on each end of the elders. One is from Peru and the other from Colorado. Also attached I have the last picture of me and Sister Castro together.

This week we didn´t teach that many lessons because Tuesday I waited at the stake center with a bunch of other elders and sisters who were waiting for their companions from Maceió. It is a 6 hour bus ride and they got to Sergipe at about 6 a noite. Then we headed to our apartment and got her settled in. Also this week Friday was a holiday and today is a holiday so there are not many people in the streets and not many things are open. 

We did teach some lessons this week though and we are going to work from the area book this next week to find novo pessoas to teach. I will keep you all posted though!

Sorry, this email is not as good as the one from last week... Every week cannot be amazing otherwise it wouldn´t be amazing! :) 

I know this church is true with all of my heart. I am so grateful for our Savior who sacrificed for us that we can all live with our Heavenly Father forever. I am so grateful for the gift of prayer. We can pray anytime and anywhere and He is always right there listening and ready to help. How wonderful is that! 

I hope you all have a great week!! I love you and miss you!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

The Best Week of the Mission

Hello Everyone!!

What a wonderful, miracle filled, joyous, amazing week this was. This week really was the best week of my mission thus far. My heart is so filled with joy and happiness that I wish I could tell all of you in person, but I guess an email will have to do for now. 

First off, We found out about transfers yesterday and I will be staying in the same area, but my companion, Sister Castro, is getting transfered to another area in Sergipe. This transfer went by SO fast and I was hoping that we would have one more transfer together, but the Lord always has a bigger and great plan for us. I will find out tomorrow who my new companion will be for this new transfer. This transfer will only be 4 weeks though which is not really a transfer espcailly because we will have stake conference, entravista com Presidente and skype with our families this transfer... Many things to look forward to! It has to do with switching over to our new mission president in July (the different weeks in transfers). I will let you all know next week about my new companion!

So this week, we taught 23 lessons and had 3 investigators come to church...3!! I complete miracle. We are teaching one man who has some addictions, but it is so amazing to see the change that is already taking place in him. He has such a sincere desire to change and it is so beautiful to watch him take it all in as we teach him the gospel of Cristo. I cannot describe to you the joy I felt when we walked up and knocked on his door to take him to church and he was already to go. I love serving the Lord and His children!

We also taught a woman this week and we actually knocked on her door on accident looking for someone else, but she welcomed us right in and we taught her about the Plan of Salvation with her son and she came to church with us on Sunday and loved it and she is already taking about her next visit. Teaching our first lesson on Friday and then they are at church Sunday... it is all the Lord. It is so amazing to see the miracles unfold and I am so grateful to help these people come unto Cristo. 

My testimony was also strengthened so much this week. At our Reunião de Distrito esta semana my district leader said something that really hit me. He said that if we as missionaries study in the morning we don´t have to worry about what we are going to say when we are teaching.We just need to listen to the Spirit and we will know what to say. That really hit me because I am always worrying about what I am going to say after Sister Castro and if I will know the words in Português, but this week I really tried to just listen to the Spirit and it was amazing to see the Lord work through me. I love teaching and I love this work! The Lord will always give us what we need if we diligently seek Him. 

One last experience, this week I was able to see the promise of John 17:26-27 happen. Sister Castro and I went to teach a less active and Sister Castro asked if I would give a message and I was super calm, said a prayer, thought of a scripture and found it so easily and I haven´t look at that scripture in weeks. If we study and do our part, the Lord will help us in our times of need. 

Well that is all for this week...an amazing week! Oh, also, I am enlightening the children of Brasil about snow. They love that I am from the states and speak what little English they know with me, but I showed them the pictures of my house with snow because it is so sad they have new had the experience of snow. 

I know this gospel is true with all of my heart. Our Heavenly Father is so loving and merciful. He is in the details in our lives and if we just trust in Him, He will work through us and we will be able to see miracles unfold in our lives. I love this work!!

I hope you all have a great week and a wonderful Easter!! I love you all!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

General Conference

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did! It was strange going to church and watching in Português, but I understood more than I thought I would and the Spirit always fills in the pieces :) I am excited though to be able to read it in English though. Some of my favorite talks were by President Uchtdort, Elder Cook (it made me miss doing family history work and going to the temple so much!) and Elder Christofferson- all of the talks were great though :) All of the music was still in Enligh though which is forgot about, which is was nice to hear the Tablernacle Choir sing beautifully as always in English. 

As we worked this week we shared with so many people about how we would be able to hear the words of our living prophet and hear exactly what Heavely Father wats us to know for these next 6 months. How amazing is that! How blessed we are to have a prophet and apostles who lead and guide this church. 

Me and the other sisters were so excited all week for General Conference and it was funny because here, we do to the stake center to watch, but there are all of the other missionaries in our stake and so many other people so we want to look our best so we got all dressed up, but if I was at home, I would be just in my PJ´s sitting on the couch watching. Ironic to think about :)

Sister Castro and I are still teaching a bunch of people and we have so much faith that people will be baptized. I will keep you all posted though. 

I know that this gosepl is true! I know that Jesus Cristo is our Savior and this is His church. I know that we have a prophet who leads and guides this church today. I know that Cristo died for each of us so that we could return to our heavely home one day to live with our families eternally. We have such a loving Father! 

I hope you all have a great week!! I love and miss you all!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

Happy Spring/Fall!

Hello Everyone!

Depending on what side of the equator you live on, Happy Spring or Fall! :) The first day of fall here is exactly what the first day of winter and everyday in between- hot with lots of sun :) It is beautiful here though and I love the people. 

This week was kind of crazy. We have exchanges so I went to Edwardo do Gomes for one day and night and it was fun to have a new companion and see a different area. It was intestering though because I was sleeping in a house with people from Brasil, Peru and Chile and me the American. It is weird to think of, but it is so normal to me now. :)

I was able to play the piano for New Beginnings for the Young Women in the ward so that was fun and it was so nice to play the piano. I also played the piano for sacarament meeting and I thought about how in the MIssionary White Handbook it says you should only sit on the stand if you are apart of the program and I was thinking about how I probably have sat on the stand for half of my mission because I have been playing the piano... I love it though and am so happy to be able to share my testimony through musical because word still fail me at times with Português. 

We had a sad moment this week when Sister Castro and I were looking through the recent convert and member lists for our ward and we found out that one of our investigators is actually a member. Well, we cannot baptized him, but we can try to get him to come back to church. It was a little bit of a heartbreak for me and Sister Castro, but we are still making it through :)

We have a beautiful lessons yesterday though with a woman and her daughter. The daughter is a friend of a member and we taught The Restoration and at the end of the lesson the mom started crying because she knew what we were teaching was true and because she felf the Spirit. The Spirit was SO strong and it was such a special moment. If we follow the Spirit, Heavenly Father will lead us to the people we need to meet. 

I love this gospel so much and am so grateful for the oppotrunity I have to share it with Heavenly Father´s children here in Brasil. This gospel is so beautiful and Heavenly Father´s plan for us is perfect. I know that the gospel is the way to happiness and to return to live with Heavenly Father, Christ and our families para eternidade. 

I hope you all have a great week!! I love you!

Com Amor,

Sister Chilson

Happy St. Patrick´s Day!

Oì Tudo Mundo!

I hope you all had a fabulous week and are doing well! Happy St. Patrick´s Day! They do not celebrate it here in Brasil obviously, but it´s all good. I am not really a fan of traditional Irish food anyway :) It is also a holiday here in Aracaju tambêm. The celebration of the city or something. I don´t really know, but no one has to work and almost everything is closed, but thankfully not this Lan House or the grocery store! :) 

I don´t have any amazing stories to tell this week, but we are still teaching some people. Two people have baptismal dates. This week Sister Castro and I are going to work from the recent convert and less active lists that we got yesterday at church to find novos para ensinar. 

The ward here is SO amazing! They are always looking out for us and offer to help in anyway they can. This ward is really focues on missionary work which is great. We had Family Home Evening with a family in the ward a week ago today and it was funny because we sang, prayed and a message, but after we didn´t just have a treat, we had a whole meal complete with a dessert as well. It was basically just another meal. Brasilians love their holidays and food :)

I also had my first district meeting with my new district this week and I have attached a picture. Please ignore my awful tan line. I love that shirt, but the sleves are higher than my other shirts... You don´t have to wonder if I am working here :) In the picture it is me, Sister Barrett, Sister Caripuna (they are companions) and Sister Castro (my companion). They we have Elder Sampaio and Elder Godoy (he is my district leader). 

I also had Reunião de Zona esta semana which is will a bunch of elders and sisters in my Zona. I have also attached a picture of that. My LZ are both Brasilian. I got to see Sister Pew though (my comp from the CTM) because she is in my zona. It was so nice to see her and talk about everything that has happened in the past 3 monthes. 

Other than that, nothing else amazing happened this week, but we will keep working hard this week and teaching the gospel :)

In my personal study this week I read Enos in O Livro de Mórmon and I realized again how amazing it is! If you haven´t read it in a while, you should. Also, I read that conference talk by Elder Holland called `Lord, I Believe`. It is a fantastic talk about faith that definately strengthened my faith. I am getting to excited for General Conference in just a few weeks! It will be in Português, but I am still so excited!

I know this gospel is true with all of my heart. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He died for you and me. He suffered for each of us so He would know exactly how to help us in our pain and suffering. How selfless and loving! I know that families are forever and that this life is not the end. I love this gospel with all of it´s beautiful truths!

I hope you all have a fabulous week! I miss you and love you!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

 

 

The Adventure Continues!

Hello Everyone!!

Transfers went well and now I am serving in Sergipe!! I am in the Grageru 1st ward with me, my companion and two other sisters. I was so surprised to get transfered to Sergipe, but I am so happy to know what Sergipe is like as well as Maceiò. We have a 5 hour bus ride though (it is suppose to be 6, but because of Carnaval there was literally no traffic). Once we got to Sergipe I met my companion, Sister Castro. She is Brazilian and is literally the sweetest person ever! She is so patient with my Português and it always willing to repeat things or expain things another way. I am so grateful to have a Brazilian companion because I really want to fully learn Português and having someone who knows no English helps with that :) 

My new area is smaller than my other one and we dont have to walk very far to get to our area (like 2 minutes). It is super cute here though. There are houses and then on the corner there will be a little bakery...  I love it here. It is hotter here than in Maceiò though because here there is not much of a breeze, but you get to a certain point where it is just hot and it´s fine :)

The ward here is super sweet and so focused on missionary work. I spoke yesterday in church and also played the piano in sacrament meeting. The meeting was starting and there was no one there to play, so I offered to one of the counslors in the bishopric and he said yes. It is always so nice to play and it is a way that I can share my testimony because sharing it in Português still isn´t the same as English. 

I know that all the rest of you had daylight savings, but here we don´t change the clocks, so I didn´t have to get used to a different time. I don´t really know why we don´t here, but it´s all good. 

I don´t really have much else to add, but Sister Castro and I taught so many lessons last week and we have some people who we are so excited to teach! We walk out of a lesson as vezes and just turn to each other and smile because we love that invstigator so much! I will keep you all updated though on people we teach who are going to be baptized. 

I hope that you all had a great week and have an even more amazing week this week! I know this gospel is true with all of my heart. I know that we have a prophet who is on the earth today. I know that he recieves revelation from Heavenly Father to guide and direct us and if we listen to his counesl we will be blessed. 

I love you and miss you all!!!

Com amor,

Sister Chilson

Oh, also, people have such a hard time with my name! I never would have thought Chilson would be so hard! They look at my tag and then have to look again because the don´t know how to pronunce it. Good times :)

 

 

 Sarah's new companion Sister Castro.

Sarah's new area Sergipe, Brazil.